Alaska

Alaska is like no other place. It has more mountains, glaciers, and wildlife than just about anywhere else in the world. Alaska is a popular destination, and while the industry has seen a decrease in visitors in the past few years due to cruise ship redeployment, new policy changes will reverse that decline and bring more people than ever back to Alaska.

Attractions:

UA Museum of the North

Large Animal Research Station

Georgeson Botanical Garden

Chena River State Recreation Area

Historical park at Rika's Roadhouse and Landing (Delta Junction)

Athabascan village of Copper Center

Kennecott Park

McCarthy

Kennecott Glacier

Cordova Coastal Outfitters

Copper River Delta

Childs Glacier

Historic gold mine at Girdwood

Alaska Native Heritage Center

Anchorage Museum at RasmusonCenter

Mount McKinley

Denali National Park

Murie Science and Learning Center

Pioneer Park

Day 1:

Arrival in Fairbanks, followed by check-in at hotel
Time at leisure
Dinner at hotel
Overnight at hotel

Day 2:

Breakfast at hotel
Proceed to University of Alaska to see the magnificent UA Museum of the North
Lunch at a local joint
Continue to the Large Animal Research Station and Georgeson Botanical Garden
Evening, return to the hotel for Gala Night Dinner and celebrations
Overnight at hotel

Day 3:

Breakfast at hotel
Proceed to explore the Chena Hot Springs Road and the boreal forest of the Chena River State Recreation Area
Select from a choice of wonderful trails with varying difficulty levels, or opt for a canoeing paddle on the Chena
After hiking/paddling, proceed to the Chena Hot Springs Resort for a soak in the natural mineral springs pond
Return to hotel
Overnight at hotel

Day 4:

Breakfast at hotel
Post breakfast, check out and travel east toward Delta Junction
At Delta Junction, visit to the historical park at Rika's Roadhouse and Landing
Lunch in town
Post lunch, southward travel on the Richardson Highway to the Athabascan village of Copper Center
Check-in at Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge
Proceed to the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Visitor Center for orientation to the park before visiting the next day
Return to hotel
Dinner at hotel
Overnight at hotel

Day 5:

Early breakfast at hotel followed by check-out
Leave for Chitina via the Edgerton Highway, arriving in time for the 8:30am Backcountry Connection shuttle for a ride into the park, with guided services provided
Reach Kennecott and check-in to wilderness lodge
Proceed for a guided walking tour through the enormous ghost-town buildings
Return to hotel
Dinner at hotel
Overnight at hotel

Day 6:

Breakfast at hotel, followed by check-out
Option of time at leisure and stroll through Kennecott and sister village McCarthy, or a half-day guided hike on the Kennecott Glacier
Afternoon, flight back to Chitina and drive back to the Richardson Highway, and then south to Valdez. Spectacular scenic views can be observed through Thomson Pass nearing the town
Check-in to hotel at Valdez, followed by dinner
Overnight at hotel

Day 7:

Early breakfast at hotel, followed by check-out
Dayhike or a museum visit depending on when the ferry leaves
Proceed by ferry for a scenic trip across eastern Prince William Sound to the town of Cordova
Check-in at hotel in Cordova
In the evening, time at leisure. Walk around the quaint town of Cordova or have a look at the two small community museums
Dinner at hotel
Overnight at hotel

Day 8:

Breakfast at hotel
Proceed to Cordova Coastal Outfitters for a sea-kayaking excursion. Explore a rich variety of marine mammals, like sea otters and sea lions, amongst many other birds and animals
Dinner at hotel
Overnight at hotel

Day 9:

Breakfast at hotel
Proceed for excursion via the Copper River Highway through the Copper River Delta, an immense wetland teeming with wildlife like trumpeter swans and other waterfowl
Explore several excellent little-used trails and bird-watching areas along the road
Reach Childs Glacier: an incredible wall of ice cut by the Copper River
Return to hotel, followed by dinner
Overnight at hotel

Day 10:

Breakfast at hotel, followed by check-out
Board ferry and proceed across the Sound to Whittier
Reach Turnagain Arm which is about 50 miles from Anchorage
Stop in Girdwood for lunch
Proceed for a hike or visit to a historic gold mine
Check-in at hotel in Anchorage, followed with time at leisure
Dinner at hotel
Overnight at hotel

Day 11:

Breakfast at hotel
Visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center to meet indigenous people and learn about their cultures in a magnificent facility they built, own, and manage
Afternoon, option of visit to Anchorage Museum at RasmusonCenter or spend the day outdoors hiking, mountain-biking, fishing, or bird-watching
Dinner at one of Alaska’s best restaurants in Anchorage
Return to hotel
Overnight at hotel

Day 12:

Early breakfast at hotel, followed by check-out
Proceed for drive to Talkeetna (about 2 hr.) for a morning flight over Mount McKinley, where you can witness the flanks of North America's tallest peak, and also arrange for a landing on a high-elevation glacier
After lunch, stroll through hip and historic Talkeetna
Proceed to Denali National Park
Check-in at lodgings, followed by time at leisure. Explore the fascinating exhibits at the visitor center at this time
Dinner at hotel
Overnight at hotel

Day 13:

Early breakfast at hotel
Proceed to Denali on the park shuttle bus system
Day at Denali
Evening, return to hotel
Dinner at hotel
Overnight at hotel

Day 14:

Breakfast at hotel, followed by check-out
Option of white-water rafting ride in the Nenana River / nature walk in the woods from the visitor center / educational program at the Murie Science and Learning Center
Proceed for lunch
Drive to Fairbanks in the afternoon
Check-in at hotel, followed by time at leisure
Dinner at hotel
Overnight at hotel

Day 15:

Breakfast at hotel
Depending on flight schedule, time at leisure to stroll in Pioneer Park and look at the historic paddle-wheeler Nenana or other museums and attractions, and soak up the small-town ambience
Check-out from hotel and proceed to Fairbanks International Airport
Departure from Fairbanks